Garbage disposal unit



July 1, 1958 A. SELMER GARBAGE DISPOSAL UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1956 INVENTOR. AL 0/.5 -5ELME BY A FTOIQA/E 49 July 1, 1958 A. SELMER GARBAGE DISPOSAL UNIT Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1956 INVENTOR.

W ,1 ArroQMs'Y5 United States This invention relates to an improved garbage disposal unit and refers more particularly to an improved automatic garbage disposal unit that is concealed within a kitchen cabinet door.

Prior art constructions of garbage disposal units have not presented a construction that encompasses all of the structural features most likely to be desired in a kitchen utensil. Some of these constructions had cumbersome obstructions that required the operator to apply one or both hands to the unit while disposing waste into the container. Other disadvantages frequently necessitated the operator to tilt the receptacle forward and involved performance of a task instead of a convenience.

in my co-pending application, Serial No. 517,823, filed June 24, 1955, now Patent No. 2,813,771, granted November 19, 1957, I have described a garbage disposal unit that provides an improved waste disposal receptacle that is sealed by a closure lid when not in use.

It is an object of the present invention to improve this construction so as to provide greater accessibility for using a garbage disposal unit.

Another object is to provide greater mobility of a disposal unit when it is released outwardly into an extended position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a concealed disposal unit within the kitchen cabinet doors.

Yet another object is to provide a greater degree of freedom to the operator in the use of an automatically releasable garbage disposal unit.

Other objects will become apparent during the course of the following specification.

In the attainment of the aforesaid objectives, the inventive concept of the present invention constitutes an improved form of a garbage disposal unit that provides a novel structural feature which conceals the disposal unit within the kitchen cabinet door and may therefore be invisible to the onlooker while the door is in a closed position. 'The door of the kitchen cabinet may be secured to a carriage and.container unit and is movably slidable along a rectangular frame as one compact construction.

The improved form of the disposal unit of the present invention may have a cylindrical container support or guide members secured to the carriage to hold the container in a selected position.

A fuller understanding of the present invention may be had by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, show ing, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 represents a plan view of the garbage disposal unit constituting the present invention in an extended position.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the novel construction illustrating the structural details and its mode of functioning.

atent 2,841,455 Patented July 1, 1958 ice Figure 3 is a detail plan view taken on line 33 of Figure 2 illustrating a preferred form of the carriage.

Figure 4 is a detail side view taken on line 4-6 of Figure 3 illustrating the carriage supporting structure.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the foot treadle mechanism.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts, reference numeral 1% indicates a garbage disposal unit, as illustrated in Figure 1, and comprises a container 11 supported for movement on a carriage 12. The closure lid 13 is adapted to fit over the open end of the container 11 when the unit is in a closed position. The circular container 11 is provided with a bale 14 to enable one to freely remove the container ii in order to dispose of its contents. The garbage disposal unit 19, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a horizontally extending frame 16 that is supported firmly to the floor or platform 18]) of a wooden kitchen cabinet by means of a cross-bar 15 and a vertically extending frame 28.

A container gripping chamber 17 holds the container 11 in a secured position upon the carriage 12. A front door 18 is secured to the container gripping chamber 17 and the carriage i2. A stop engaging spring 19 is secured to opposite ends of the carriage frame 12. The stop engaging spring 19 is longitudinally offset and is attracted to a magnet 4-9, as shown in Figure 3, which is secured at opposite ends of the horizontally extending frame 16.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the carriage 12 and the container 11 are mounted for sliding movement on wheel legs 2t? and 21 which ride in slideways 2 2 and 23 of the rectangular frame To. The wheel legs 24} and 21 are arranged at one end of the carriage 12. The slideways 22 and 23 comprising channel members 22a and 23a are positioned so that they are facing inwardly as horizontal parallel sides of the frame 16. The channel members 22a and 23a rollably accommodate the wheel legs 29 and 21, respectively. 7

The carriage 2.2 further comprises a cross-piece 26 having a centrally disposed stop 27 thereon, and a medially disposed cross-piece 25 which has a catch 24 scentrally fixed thereon.

The rectangular frame 16 comprises a helical spring 29 medially disposed at one end of the frame 16 and the cross-bar 15. Upon the opposite ends of the frame 16 are fixed roller wheels 39 and 31. The helical spring 2% is supported by a plate 29a which is secured to the cross-piece 15. The adjustable stop 27 is guided into the helical spring 29.

A horizontally extending cross-piece 34 medially fixed to the frame 16 comprises a complementary catch 24a and a connecting linkage 38 that is depressed by a cam 39 of a pivot bar 32 which is pivotally supported between the slideways 22 and 23 of the frame 16, as shown in Figure 1.

The opposite ends of the pivot bar 32 are fixed to a lid elevating linkages 35 and 35a, respectively, at opposite ends of the container 11.

The pivot bar 32 is caused to pivot in a counterclockwise direction by means of an operating lever 36 having a treadle 37 secured at the free end thereof and engaged at its other end with the pivot bar 32.

A cam 39 is secured centrally to pivot bar 32. A connecting link 38 fixed at its one end to a support 38:: of the horizontal cross-piece 34 is provided with a spring 40 biasing cross-piece 34 in an upward direction to engage the catch 2411 of the frame 16 with the catch 24 of the carriage 12 when the carriage is in its closed retracted position.

A vertically extending rectangular supporting frame 28 isfixed to the forward end of the frame 16 and to the 7 its closed position.

' platform or floor of'the cabinet by means of screws or bolts in a known manner.

The closure lid 13 is operated by means of an elevating link 35 secured to each end of a pivot bar 32 and engaging link 45 fulcrurning about fulcrum 46 and engages opposite ends of alid cross-piece 41 on the lid 13.; The engaging link 45 passes through a stationary collar 47 supported on either end of the Vertically extending frame 28. As shown in Figure 2, the mounted collar :47 has a spring 48'biasing the engaging link 45 to position'and the opposite end of the spring 48 is fixed to the vertical frame 28.

The cross-piece 41 of the lid 13 normally'rests upon a step 42 of a plate 44 when the carriage 12 is in its closed retracted position, and upon a step 43 when the carriage is in its extended position. 7

Thecarriage 12 is removable from its slideways 22 and 23 by retracting a hinge 50 that is swingably mounted toeach end of the cross-piece 26. The hinges 50 also serves as a stop for preventing the carriage 12 to slide out of its slideways when in its extended position.

7 The opposite end 37a of the treadle 37 is adjustably fixed to the wooden leg support 52 of the cabinet. An elevating linkage 54 is fixed intermediate the treadle 37 and connected to an operating lever 36. The pivot bar 32 is turned counter-clockwise when the treadle 37 is 'depressed.

The hinges 50 and 51 are provided. with rubber bumpers 56 and 57, respectively. 7 The-lid 13 further. comprises a perpendicular crosspiece 58. A rubber roller 59 is fixed to one end of the cross-piecef 58 which serves as 'a means to move the j lid 13 into step 43 when the door 18 is retracted into The container-gripping chamber 17 is fixed to crosspieces 25 and 26 at therfront and rear ends of the carriage 12, respectively. The container-gripping chamber 17 has a front cross-piece 25a that is elevated one-half the height greater than that of the rear cross-piece 26.

' As'is illustrated in Figure 5, the foot'treadle 37 has its opposite end 37a securely fastened to the wooden leg 52. Anadjustable rod 37b is pivotally secured at one end to the foot treadle' 37 and adjustably screwed at the op- -posite end to the elevating link 54. V i

In operation: I a

The operator places his or her foot upon the treadle 37 and depresses it downwa'rd to its maximum displacement. The pivot bar 32.turns in a counter-clockwise directon causing the cam 39 to depress the horizontal cross-piece 34 that depresses the catch 24a and releases the catch 24. Concurrently ,the engaging lever 45 moves upwardly vertically with the counter-clockwise action of the pivot bar 32. Consequently, the lid 13 is raised upwardly. The lid cross-piece 41 is then frictionally moved upon the step 43 from step 42 and the carriage 12.slides outwardly by means of wheel legs 20 and21 along the slideways 22 and 23. The carriage comes to a gradual stop by means of the magnetic attraction for the stop engaging spring 19. The gradual stopping of the carriage prevents the bumpers 56 and 57 from striking the vertical frame 28... H

It will become apparent that the construction of the hinges 50 and 51 are provided as a safety feature and for removal of the carriage for maintenance and repair.

In the closed position thetreadle 37-m'aiutains itsupper position, as shown in Figure 2. The catch 24 engages catch 24a and the unit remains in the closed position until the treadle 37 is subsequently depressed. "The helical spring29 provides the momentum for an outward displacement of the unit along the slideways 22 and 23. V

In this construction the door lfi. is movable with the carriage 12 and containerll fromthecabinet frame 18a so that normally from all outward appearances the onsaid carriage in an extended position; a complementary.

hingeless door 18, in order to close the lid 13, is manually inates the tiltable action of the slideway.

Furthermore, I a minimum number of elements are utilized in the irnproved form herein described'in order to ,maintain a serviceable unit .to achieve a more convenient garbage disposal result. A decided improvement is the novel structural feature of ahingeless door constructed in the manner describedherein that its removal renders the garbage disposal unit completely inoperative.

Itwill become apparent that the construction provides a readily detachablerunit, easily operable and conveni ently stored; 7

It will be understood further that the invention is not limited to the exact disclosure herein described but may lend itself to a variety of expressions within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: v

1. A garbage disposal unit adapted for concealed installation in a wall or cabinet, said unit comprising: a slideway frame; a carriage slidably mounted on said slideway; a spring mounted to the rear of said slideway frame; a stop-engaging member mounted on said. carriage and biasing same downwardly; a vertically; extending supporting frame fixed at one end of said slideway. frame and enclosing said carriage; a container on said carriage;

.a closure removably positioned over said container and movable toraised and lowered positions; spring means retaining said closure in one of said positions; magnetic means on said slideway for retaining said carriage in.

an extended position; a complementarycatch mounted beneath said. carriage; a cam mounted beneath said car- 'riage, a connecting link adapted to be'engaged by said 2. A garbage disposal unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the carriage has at least'one retractable hinge, and a rubber bumper fixed to said hinge.

3. A garbage disposal unit adapted for concealed installation in a wall or cabinet, said unit comprising: a

slideway frame; a carriage slidablymounted on said slider way; a spring mounted to the rear of said slideway frame; a stop-engaging member mounted on saidcarriage and biasing same downwardly; a vertically extending supporting frame; fixed at one end of said slideway frame and enclosing said carriage; a container onrsaid carriage; a closure removably positioned over said 1con-' tainer and movable to raised and lowered positions; spring means retaining said closure in one of said positions; magnetic means on said slideway for gradually stopping catch mounted beneath said carriage; a cam' mounted beneath said carriage, a connecting link adapted to be engaged by said cam; a linkage, means connecting said linkage with said closure and said cam; a catch mounted on said connecting link; ,and a lever oper'atively connected with said linkage to depress said connecting link and raise or lower said closure.

4. A garbage disposal unit adaptedfor concealedin riage; a hingeless door fixed to said carriage; a closure removably positioned over said-container and movable to raised and lowered positions, said hingeless door clos-' ing saidclosure in a retractedposition; a roller extending fromsaid closure *and'biasing said door; spring means retaining said closure in one of said positionspa, cam

5 6 mounted beneath said carriage, a connecting link adapted References Cited in the file of this patent to be engaged by said cam, a linkage, means connecting UNITED STATES PATENTS said linkage with said closure and actuating said connecting link, and a lever operatively connecting the 2,597,722 Goldberg May 1952 said linkage to actuate said cam to depress said connect- 5 2699368 Selmer 1955 ing link, whereby said carriage is extended. 

